Tag Archives: Moms

“My friend Rachel and I decided to purchase our track suits together, she also decided to get Nicole Richie thin that summer. We arrived at Burdine’s in Miami, back then the equivalent to Bloomingdale’s. Juicy was so hot that they had a separate section in the store filled with racks and racks of Juicy Couture, mostly of the coveted terry or velour tracksuits in a rainbow of colors and sizes from XS to XL. Rachel and I both grabbed the extra small hoody and the extra small pants. Her waif body fit right into the suit. Horrified, I stared at my reflection in the very mean mirror. I moved up to a small. My boobs were squeezed into a uni boob. For the first time in my life I noticed what seemed to be back fat from my bra strap.”

Click on link above to read more about my JUICY adventures and how I know Juicy track suits are back and will be bigger than ever.

Denim on Denim. Canadian Tuxedo. Jean Suit. Denim Tuxedo. Whatever you call it, this is my style. I live in denim, always have. So what do you think, Hot or not? Here are so many photos of me (what? you had enough?) in another jean on jean look.. notice the different shades of denim and my accessories…it makes my denim suit look less “suit” and more funky and stylish.. nothing “polished” about this look at all.. which I like.

In case you didn’t read my tips in my first post, here’s the key to pulling off, well really what I wear daily

Mix colors: I think it looks cooler to wear many different colors, like Joseph and his technicolor dream coat 🙂

Mix fabrics: so some denim is worn in and some denim is very dense.. it looks stylin’ to have all those fabrics blended. So a beat up jacket with holes paired with dark blue and stiff jeans.

Accessorize: Add color and/or lots of gold like me. Now that you are wearing all jean, throw some jewelry on and over do it..you can, believe me. Either silver or gold or a bright beaded necklace like I have from Colombia..go for it.

Bags/Shoes: Again, have fun here. You can get away with so much, like wearing high heels in bright red or white – especially if you are wearing jeans with holes. I love wearing a fancy bag like a Chanel or anything with gold hardware or even a fancy clutch with head to toe denim.. it gives cool style immediately. And it’s more fun to take something polished and make it a little less polished…

Opposites Attract: ..and the same works in regard to style. High/Low, Soft/Hard, Formal/Informal…

Men: You can pull this off so well, just make sure someone approves those jeans, must fit well, especially in the booty – although I kind of love a little sagging, if you can get away with it..throw on a cool jean jacket, maybe a beat up one, or a really dark denim paired with ripped jeans or an old denim work shirt.. you’ll stop traffic, believe me

This bag – -it’s so good!! But you can also change the entire look by wearing a bag with a lot more bling and/or logos.

Yes that’s a close up of my tushy.. my friend Eric Tabora took all these shots, and none of us noticed my jeans were missing a big patch..oops. The photos are in black and white, but I’m wearing all denim.. I’m a big believer in a denim tuxedo or Canadian Tuxedo or whatever you guys call it – it’s pretty much my uniform, denim is my favorite fabric, and always has been…

These shorts look like underwear, especially when the camera is lower. I know it’s hard to see what I’m wearing in the artsy black & white… but it’s all DENIM, even my top is denim…I’m kinda obsessed..here ya go:

Fashion Notes: Bag: vintage Coach from Barney’s, Shoes: from the vintage fair in Oakland, I cut them to make half boots, Shorts: old Levi’s, Top: Intermix, Glasses: Dries Van Noten

I’ve been making denim jackets, and my friends decided to photograph me wearing one during a fun vacation in Ojai. Nothing better then being with friends, singing, creating and laughing. And making people laugh, like here when my fringe got stuck on a cactus.

here are my tips to pulling off….

Mix colors: I think it looks cooler to wear many different colors, like Joseph and his technicolor dream coat 🙂

Mix fabrics: so some denim is worn in and some denim is very dense.. it looks stylin’ to have all those fabrics blended. So a beat up jacket with holes paired with dark blue and stiff jeans.

Accessorize: Add color and/or lots of gold like me. Now that you are wearing all jean, throw some jewelry on and over do it..you can, believe me. Either silver or gold or a bright beaded necklace like I have from Colombia..go for it.

Bags/Shoes: Again, have fun here. You can get away with so much, like wearing high heels in bright red or white – especially if you are wearing jeans with holes. I love wearing a fancy bag like a Chanel or anything with gold hardware or even a fancy clutch with head to toe denim.. it gives cool style immediately. And it’s more fun to take something polished and make it a little less polished…

Opposites Attract: ..and the same works in regard to style. High/Low, Soft/Hard, Formal/Informal…

I’m not lying when I tell you I met this mom washing her hands In the women’s bathroom next to me – we, fine I stroke up a conversation and then asked if I could please take she and her gorgeous daughter’s photos. Her earrings & social work t-shirt is all she needed to capture my attention.

I have a special place in my heart for social workers, because my mama is one. She went back to school after my dad died, and got her Masters in Social Work. She worked on the Oncology floor of a hospital, and used her own life experience to help others. It’s not an easy career, but Social Workers do so much to improve our world – and I love them for that.

Nails. A little long, but short enough to actually do things, like ya know to feed meters, and other basic things I have issues doing with my long nails.

Dreamcatcher tattoos. I think this mom makes this tattoo, that has become common place, actually pretty darn cool..because ya kind of see them at every music festival.

Purple hair, cute kid.

This is LOVE.

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It’s hot outside, and style takes a little more work, or maybe less? With more skin showing, more neurotic insecurities come up – EVEN though I know how unimportant superficial insecurities are, they still scratch at me – But I tell myself several times a day, “Mara, stop being so boring & focusing on BS” – it usually works.

Hair: Wavy and braided, Army Jacket: I cut it in half, it’s from a thrift store and it’s Jordache, I’m thinking 80’s, Bag: Vintage Gucci that belonged to my incredible Grandmother Sylvia, who had the best sense of humor, personality, wit, zest for life and a beauty that stopped those in her tracks. My mom bought her this bag, after she watched all four of us, I imagine a Gucci bag doesn’t equal the price of babysitting my wild siblings and me. I wear this bag, and it’s more than a fancy bag, it’s my grandma who’s keeping me company. Shorts: They are short, I got them at Free People, not many stores here in Marin County, I liked the color. Nails: Pointy, white, gold and so high maintenance. Earrings: Oscar de la Renta chandelier earrings, from Neiman Marcus and personalized door knockers, which already broke!!! Denim tank: cut by me, bought maybe at Intermix, Choker: bought this at a tiny thrift store in Marin County for maybe $5

The Gucci bag is longer than my shorts…. of course!

I mean it’s hard to wear heels with short shorts, but the way I mix it up – it’s a little funky and cool – not so sexy.

Lupe is pregnant. She wanted me to know that, and as a woman, I understood right away. Any of us who’ve been pregnant, know we want to ensure all humans realize, we’re not heavy in the mid-section – we’re growing a person in there.

When I was pregnant, after three months, I announced it to some work people. One of them thought it would be flattering to let me know this, “Mara, you don’t look pregnant at all, you just look really chubby!”. Apparently, my reaction caused her to volunteer to enter a witness protection program.

I love staring at tattoos. It’s art, only on human skin – it’s weird to stare though, but so hard not to stare. I feel like I need to understand the protocol here – I mean ya get a tattoo, and usually its statement about who you are – tattoos to people are what bumper stickers are to cars. Am I right?

Lupe has so many tattoos, but they are spaced so well, it just looks so beautiful & stylin’.

And her feminine, floral dress (with skeletons) paired with a loose bun and an old school 1990’s pearl choker…perfection!!!! Love this. Pregnant and two kids on a burning hot day – and look at her!!!!

This kid is so gorgeous and didn’t complain once, it was soooo hot – not one complaint. Meanwhile, my kid was not into being his mother’s PA – too bad, I said, ya want a funnel cake? then help me!!

I’m officially having a love affair with a denim jacket. It sat in a Saks box for at least a week before I made the commitment. It wasn’t cheap, and if I see this Alice + Olivia Chloe jacket on sale, I will retaliate :).

I researched, I looked around, I scoured vintage stores for specific acid wash jackets – but I had to go fancy, and I had to pay retail. I even tried on a Marc Jacobs black worn-in denim jacket, and like all things Marc Jacobs – it looked terrible on my body type. And I wanted to support my fellow Jewish brother, but it wasn’t made to fit the short, but curvy. Marc – -come on, remember your Jewish sisters and their body types!

And so, a brand I never was really into – seemed to get my attention, https://www.aliceandolivia.com – the jacket, named “the Chloe embellished jacket” is now part of the Mara Menachem ridiculous jean jacket collection or coalition. I hear the 1960’s studded jacket is leading a revolt, apparently, I am not an equal opportunity wearer (not funny?).

That Stacey Bendet of Alice + Olivia is in a real creative flow – she has been making some seriously cool threads, and I’m watching. Check out her bell bottoms, don’t know how they fit in the booty – but they look slamming on the mannequin.

The Chloe jacket (wish it had a different name, Chloe is just so obvious) has beaded pins in various places of things like lady bugs and butterflies. My issue: I’m such a repeater, so don’t make me feel bad for wearing it every day – because I will. And I will document it, so please be understanding.

Weird face here.. but Dries Van Noten made these John Lennon glasses. I love them, picked them up in LA at the Off Fifth outlet – always the best place to get designer glasses. Oh and I did just get my nails done – – a little black in Spring.

I wear my Ash moccasins unzipped -it’s a new thing. Okay, fine – it’s not new, it’s because I get blisters – so I go unzipped. Calves made by genetics and Cycle Bar – they keep getting bigger.

This bag is one of a kind. I bought it at the Oakland vintage fair, it makes me look cooler, and I like to mix this 70’s bag with other decades, like the 80’s and 90’s. To me, when you dress in one period, it comes off as “I’m going to a costume party”.

I agree the dress is too short – that was more of a hemming mistake (i.e. scissors)..

Well, I was just having a good hair day – can’t a woman be proud of her locks?

Rachel talks about how she waited to have kids – and you can tell in conversation, that she appreciates being a mom. Like we’ve heard over and over, you can’t do it all..at once..and that’s something I truly believe. So many moms have little choice in the matter, and it’s the American way. To me, all moms should have a year off, paid, with a guarantee of job security. But this country makes moms do it all – at once, it’s impossible and unfair. And if we wait to have kids, biologically we’re penalized, medical intervention isn’t cheap and health insurance doesn’t cover fertility treatments.

It’s a subject so deep and disturbing, discussing the treatment of moms in general, gets me on a never-ending rant – as we all should be. We are set up to fail, and it’s the wealthy who have the opportunities to raise kids, without endless obstacles.

On a lighter note, Rachel is taking her daughter to a puppet show, after a quick visit to the photo booth. Rachel is from LA, and is now moving to a very bohemian town in Sonoma called Sebastopol. Sebastopol is known for its liberal politics, small town feel and famous residents with many musicians, writers and artists.

I meet people everyday, who move from big cities to rural areas and revel in the tight communities and slower pace. I think for me, living in Marin is amazing – but I still can’t deal with not being able to find food after 9:30, or a bar that’s filled with lots of people who talk loud, and not because they are drunk, but because they are just loud talkers. I do frequent Berkeley, San Francisco and Oakland to feel socially stimulated, if need be.

eBay.com & Thehuffingtonpost.com asked for my top kid gift this holiday season, I sound like a total capitalist, to which I’m not – but most of all, I feel like a true success when I watch my boys play a board game – they focus, read directions and have fun without technology – it’s so validating. I know you moms get it, and dads!!

“Haute Drop-Off blogger Mara Menachem plans to prepare her kids for the business world with the assistance of a classic board game.” Click on the link to read about my holiday toy pick, and other top mom bloggers…

Check out those espadrilles! Fernanda is Brazilian and now Californian..I grew up lucky enough to be around Brazilians – stylish, cool, laid back and fun… maybe these are stereotypes, but these are the characteristics I find in many Brazilians. Also insanely gorgeous!!